Method and apparatus for semicontinuous casting



5 Sheets-Sheet l M. LOEWENSTEIN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEMICONTINUOUS CASTING Ilfl'lllillll lllllllllll Dec. 14, 1954 Filed May 29, 1951 INVENTOR. MAX LOEa/EMSTEM/ ATTOZ/VE) Dec. 14, 1954 M. LOEWENSTEIN 2,696,646

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEMICONTINUOUS CASTING Filed May 29, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a in INVENTOR. M/IX ZOEWE/VSTE/IV BY 5 Z/i A/LL 19 77' ORNE X 1954 M. LOEWENSTEIN 2,696,646

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEMICONTINUOUS CASTING Filed May 29, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. M,4X ZOEl/E/YSTE/IV Dec. 14, 1954 M. LOEWENSTEIN ,6

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEMICONTINUOUS CASTING Filed May 29, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 la H INVENTOR. MAX LOEME/YSTE/lV ATTORNEY 1954 M. LOEWENSTEIN 2,696,646

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEMICONTINUOUS CASTING Filed May 29, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lll' L INVENTOR.

" M/IX LOEWENSTEIIV ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofi 2,696,646 Patented Dec. 14, 1954 ice METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEMICONTINUOUS CASTING Max Loewenstein, New York, N. Y., assignor to Loma Machine Manufacturing Co. Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 29, 1951, Serial No. 228,890 7 Claims. (Cl. 22-57.2)

The invention relates to casting of metal billets or slabs and relates more particularly to such casting in a series of intermittent continuous casting operations, known as semi-continuous casting operations.

Casting of this type is' customarily carried out in a water cooled mold with vertical casting passage or passages, with a bottom assigned to the mold that is moving vertically downward during casting operation. When the billets or slabs have attained the desired length, the casting operation is interrupted for removal of the completed cast articles.

Heretot'ore, the removal of the completed articles has caused considerable delays, resulting in high cost and restriction of potential output of the casting installation. in accordance with the process customarily used, the molds must be lifted off their supports to enable the removal of billets or slabs after casting by means of overhead cranes or similar lifting device. During the time required for removal of mold and cast articles and, thereafter, replacing of the molds, the casting process has to be discontinued.

The instant invention has therefore among its objects to provide for semi-continuous casting wherein the casting operation is interrupted only for minimum periods and to discharge the cast articles without disturbing the water cooled molds in their position and even while the casting operation is resumed. Further objects include the speedup of the overall semi-continuous operation, the saving of cost and the simplification of operation.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following specification and in part will be obvious therefrom without being specifically referred to, the same being realized and attained as pointed out in the claims hereof.

With the above and other objects of the invention in view, the invention consists in the novel methods, construction, arrangement and combination of various devices, elements and parts, as set forth in the claims here-- of, one embodiment of the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the specifica tion.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention;

' Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, illustrating the parts in a first position for discharge;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view, showing the parts of Fig. 2 but illustrating them in the last position for discharge;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view, similar to Fig. 3, but showing the parts in the article pick-up position;

gig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 1; 311 Fig. 6 is a sectional view, embodying a modification.

In carrying the invention into effect in one of the embodiments which has been selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings and for description in this specification there is provided a mold member generally indicated at 11. In a preferred embodiment, the mold member 11 is fixed, and a bottom member 12 is movable vertically below the same, but it will be understood that the function of these members may be kinematically reversed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention save as limited in the claims hereof.

Above the mold 11, there is provided a pouring mech anism for molten metal, but this is a well-known device and has not been illustrated in the drawings. While the molten metal is being poured into one or several of the vertical molding passages 13, 14 and 16 of the mold 11, the bottom 12 moves downwardly. The billets or slabs 17, 18 and 19 rest on raised profiled platforms 21 of the bottom 12; one platform 21 is for each of the mold passages and matches the profile thereof. For example, as shown in Fig. l, the profile may be one of rectangularlike shape with concave arcuate end surfaces. In the initial or first position (not illustrated) of the movable bottom 12, the platforms 21 fit properly into the passages 13, 14 and 16, and the bottom 12 will then be moved to a second position marking the end of the casting operation for the particular slabs then in the mold, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 4.

The bottom 12 may be moved vertically by any suitable conventional means, such as for instance, by a piston 22 of a hydraulic cylinder 23.

After the slabs 17, 18 and 19 have been cast, the pouring of molten metal is interrupted. This may be accomplished either manually, or automatically when the bottom 12 has reached the second position.

in order to remove the slabs from the mold, the bottom 12 is then moved further downwardly to a third position, shown in broken lines in Fig. 4 in which the slabs 17, 18 and 19 have been drawn downwardly below the mold 11 for a distance sufiicient so that there will be a top clearance space 24 between the underside of the mold 11 and the upper surfaces of the slabs.

A transport mechanism, generally indicated at 26, is arranged to remove the slabs from their casting position (Fig. 4-) towards discharge.

The transport mechanism 26 comprises a carriage that includes a frame 27 which surrounds an opening 36, and the frame 27 is supported on rollers 28 that run on horizontal tracks 29. A driving mechanism, such as a motor 31 and a belt drive 32, is provided to move the frame 27 horizontally in opposite directions, namely the direction 33 to move the slabs towards the discharge position 37, and in the direction 34 to return the frame 27 tothe pickup position for the subsequently cast series of slabs.

The frame 27 has an opening 36 that surrounds an area which exceeds the area stretching between the path of the bottom 12 and the area 37 that defines the discharge position of the slabs. By this arrangement, as shown in Fig. 2 the slabs, following their pick-up, are deposited in the discharge area 37 while at the same time the bottom 12 may return to its first position, unobstructed by any part of the frame 27. for casting the next series of slabs.

In order to pick up the slabs, there is provided for each slab a pick-up mechanism, such as oppositely disposed paired grippers generally indicated at 38, 39 and 41 for the slabs 17, 18 and 19 respectively. The grippers are disposed in the frame 27, as best shown in Fig. 5. A typical gripper in accordance with the invention comprises a contact member 42 that is rigidly connected to a lever 43, and is pivoted together therewith at a point 44 that is fixed relative to the frame 27. The lever 43 is pivoted to a link 46, and the latter is shiftable horizontally, for instance by a hydraulic cylinder and piston arrangement 47, or by any other suitable mechanical pneumatic or electromagnetic means. The hydraulic arrangement 47 may be actuated in opposite directions by remote control (not shown in detail), to move the contact member 42 arcuately in the direction 48 into the active. position, illustrated in Fig. 5, or in an opposite direction to an inactive position wherein it is retracted in the frame 27.

Opposite pairs of grippers, such as the grippers 38, the grippers 39, or the grippers 41, are actuated simultaneously, and preferably all of the grippers for all of the slabs may be removed into active position simultaneously by any suitable well-known synchronizing devicethough retraction may have to take place separately for each pair, for reasons pointed out below.

Although only two grippers are shown for each slab, it will be understood that the number of grippers for each slab may vary therefrom.

The grippers are so positioned in the frame 27 that in the pick-up position (Fig. 4) the grippers 38 will be aligned with and be in proper gripping position for the slab 17, and the grippers 39 be aligned with the slab 18, and the grippers 41 be in gripping position for the slab 19.

After the slabs have been cast and lowered out of the 2 'and- 3. Owing to thisadditional lowerin'ggeach-'slahwill be held: between th'e opposite grippers ofia 'pair-ass'ignedi thereto, and all of the slabsw1ll be suspend'ed in the. space that stretches between the mold -ll andlthe bott'om The slabs will then be transported 'away from the casting. or pick-up position: by, movement of the frame '27 in the direction 33 until the-last slab l9had cleared'thepath of the bottom 12. The-slabscanthen be discharged. Owing'to-the extent of theopening'36"; the can thereafter be moved resumption'of the casting:

The discharge of the slab may either "be carried out: by means of overhead cranes-to -remove the slabs out of the frame, or by'means of special removal equipment, one embodiment of which -will'-now-be described.

The-special equipment for removinggslab's, is'genera'lly indicated at 51. the other in succession, in a' single-discharge position 49 that corresponds to the-last slab position in the discharge area 37. The equipment 51 comprises two aligned gears 52 journalled" about a fixed axis 53. An'elevator' 54 is provided that has two spaced'racks56, and each racliis inmesh with agear 52.' Guiding rollers 57' are arranged on opposite sides of the elevator-54 toguide the latter vertically for a'portion and'to permit" backward tilting thereof subsequently. The gears 52 may/be driven by anysuitable conventional power-drive, for'instance' power drive generally indicatedat'SS, .that is energized by an electric motor. Normally, the elevator 54 is in an upward position, shown in Fig. 4, in which it clears the path of the frame 27 and allows the latter to'transport the slabs from the casting position towards-thedischarge position.

After. the slabs have been transported far enough-to' clear the pathof the bottom 12, the movement of the frame 27 is brought to a stop, and the elevator 54xis lowered into the position shown in Fig. 2.

Then, the.frame 27'. is moved further' in :the direction 33 until the .slab .17 reaches thedischarge position 49: Thereafter, the elevator 54 is operatedto lift the slab' 17 out of. the .frame '27 whilethe. latter stands still. Simultaneously, contact member 42 is disengaged. The'slab is first lifted vertically by the elevator, owing to theguiding;

rollers 57. Nearthe end of. the vertical 'rnovement,,a pm

59 that is carried by the elevator 54, will engage a book 61 that is journalled on the axis' 53$ This causes tiltingof the. elevator 54, and after an. initial periodof tilting, theelevator 54is engaged. at itsunderside'tails 65 by rollers;

60 of a supporting mechanism 62.for'furthertilting until. the slab is disposed horizontally for subsequent horizontal conveying. The rollers60 may beLformedo'n' a-piston'of the hydrauliccylinder of the supportingmechanisrrr62i After one slab has .thustbeen conveyed, the elevator 1i. is returned .to its lifting. position .withinthe' frame. 27 .and'

theframe 27 'is again movedinthedirection' 33 m deposit on the elevator 54 the next slab, for. instance :the slab" 18i This continues until all ofthe' slabshave"beenliftedout of the frame 27 by the elevator 54..

If an elevator of thistype. isused, the. opening 36"'of" the frame.27 has to be long enough'toiprovide clearance" forthe elevator 54 priorto the lifting .of the first slab 17';

Prior to the lifting: of each' slab, the oppositely disposed grippers thereof have tobe released, while" the grippers of the other slabs will still have'tobe'maintained in active gripping position.

A modified deviceais disclosed in 61' water'coole'd mold 71 is shown that hasvertical'castingtp'assages72i. Articles to be cast, such as billets'73', 74, 76, 77, 7.8 and" 79 are shown, in broken lines, below themol'd' 71. The.

position shown is that in which the movable bottom 81, after completion of the casting'tothede'sired length has been moveddownwardly for a-sma'll distance; underthe power of a hydraulic apparatus 82, to removethe billets" out of the mold 71.

Underneaththe mold.71 there is provided a'horiZon'tally movable carriage 83 that runsontracks 84; andis'rsmov-- able by a propelling mechanism 86. from" the position" shown in .solidlines, over-Jan intermediate position shown in dot-and-dash lines, to a terminal positton shownindashand broughtinto" the gripperspthecbbttomh It provides for'removin'gone sl'ab' after walls-"87" and";

and-double-dot lines in Fig. 6. The carriage 83 has side between-thepositions-forthe-billets; thereare provided reinforcing transverse elements 88. Near the side walls 87, there are provided gripping means for each billet, similar to those shown in the previous embodiment, and not illustrated in detail in Fig, 6.

In the position shown in solidlines in Fig. 6, the billets are shown :below the-carriage 83. lrr'rorderito'. suspend them therein,'..thei"bottom; tihwillrhave tor b'e-.moved upwardly until the top of the billets can be gripped by the grippingrmeansfonsuspension.

Aften'. all.-.the-; billets have .been: .susp.ended,...the carriage is first moved to the intermediatea position', wherein: the first billet 73 will be released by, the gripping means for support and' subsequent I removal'-- by": a conveyori mechanism generally indicate at .89 that vis..--disposed, at least partially below thetraclEs84'f Subsequently, the carriage 83 will be moved for short distances correspon'dingetorthe2distancessbetweenutliezsucceeding ;1billets,'. for. removal ofial]: ofaithe'sbilletss'suca cession,..until-.ther carriage hamreachednthe terminalsposii tion.

The bottorn281amay "bezraisediintorits .top positionzand casting resumed assoomas the carriage fifi'h as beennnovedi out oflthe :p athlof. the molds;

It WillvbC apparenttosthose skilled :in::-the-:art thatthe'. novel princi'pleszof. thee-inventiomdisclosedi herein :in zoom nectionawithospecificexemplifi'catio'ns: thereof will suggest;- various other modifications and applications of th'e same. Itiis'. accordingly-desired than in .construing the breadth of the; appendedikclaims;:they-shalhnot be" limited to the -spe--- cific: exemplifi'cat'ons 0f the invention described herein:

Having-thus described-the invention, wh'at'l claim as new and desire to besecured by Letters Patent,"v is as-fol IOWSQ- 1 ln aemetliod of"casting simultaneously a'plurality" of metal hrticles; such-'as billets or slabs in -asenrb'continuous operat-ion ineaa-fixed mold havingawertically movable" separate bottom, the steps comprising, casting" simul taneously a plurality ofarticles in a continuing casting flow, thereafter interrupting the" casting; then removing: simultaneously all of said articles bvgravit'y downwardly out ot'" he mold, simultaneouslysuspendingallofsaid cast articles in thespacetbeneathrthemold, removing suspended articles" together" at an angleto" thea vertical": so-'as to* clear the path of saidbotto'm; and releasing-one slab afterthe other; in predetermined successiom, from the suspension;

2. In a; methodbf castingqprofite'd metallarttel'es; .such" as slabs: orblocks, inza semi continuous "operation',..in:-.a: moldmemberhavingaseparate bottom member, at" least one of. said members being; movable" vertieall'y relative. to the other; the steps compri's'ing,.ca'sting1atleast oneartile. 111 a COntIIIu'OUS vertical? casting,.operation,.. thereafter. ii'1-. terruptinggthe 'castingppera'tion, .then separating the. article from the mold,.. gripping, said article:-,.thereat'er moving, the-article downwardly. so. tliat'it' will1be..suspended,'.mov.-- ing' the suspended"article substantially horizontally off? the path of said movable. member,.. and. removing the article .from its suspension...

31 In a machine for'casti'ng profiledlmetaliingots in a iscum-continuous.operation, including. aamoldli member havmga.vertical.:castirigpassage, andIla -.bottonr.-member: in. registry. with: saidl passage-Hat 1 least one of said" members. being, inovableavertically. relative to the other. to andc from an initialposition ofproximityfor-casting start;.in combination Nvith an'article' discharge area-laterallyaspaced: from-z-said passage; a: transport: mechanismzfor: the completed cast article comprising a frame movable at am angle =to:thervertical'between .a: receiving: position wherein a :part of is'ai-diframe': isnnire'gistry "with said passage and al-releasin'gtpo'sitioniwherein ithe said frame part is in'reg'=- istry with said' article discharge area, meanst form sup? porting said"v frame throughoufits movements; driving means for moving-said frame; and a mechanism'sup ported-in thesaid part of said frame and 'being actuable= to grip; the'side surfaces-of sa'id ingottosuspend*saidihgot" releasablyz' 4. In" a machine for" casti1'1g:profiled metal ingots in a semi-continuous operation; including; a mold member having averticial casting passagegand a'bottom member in"'registry,iwitli"said passage;.at least one *ofsaid members" an imtial position ofproximit'yfor castingstart; incom awash bination with, an article discharge area laterally spaced from said passage for a distance sufiicient to clear the path of said movable membe", a transport mechanism for the completed cast article comprising a frame movable at an angle to the vertical beween a receiving position wherein a part of said frame is in registry with said passage and a releasing position wherein the said frame part is in registry with said article discharge area, said frame surrounding an opening dimensioned in excess of the space extending between the casting passage and the article discharge area, means for supporting said frame throughout its movements, driving means for moving said frame, and a mechanism supported in the said part of said frame and being actuable to grip the side surface of said ingot to suspend said ingot releasably.

5. In a machine for casting profiled metal articles, such as slabs or billets, in a semi-continuous operation, including a mold member having a vertical casting passage, and a bottom member in registry with said passage, at least one of said members being movable vertically relative to the other to and from an initial position of proximity for casting start, in combination with, an article discharge area laterally spaced from said passage for a distance sufficient to clear the path of said movable member, a transport mechanism for the completed cast article comprising a frame movable at an angle to the vertical between a receiving position wherein a part of said frame is in registry with said passage and a releasing position wherein the said frame part is in registry with said article discharge area, said frame surrounding an elongated opening longer than said distance, means for supporting said frame throughout its movements, driving means for moving said frame, and a plurality of grippers supported in the said part of said frame and being actuable by remote control to project from said part into said opening for gripping said ingot, and to be retracted from said opening for ingot release.

6. In a machine for simultaneously casting a plurality of profiled metal articles, such as slabs or billets, in a semi-continuous operation, including a fixed mold member having a plurality of adjacent vertical casting passages, and a vertically movable bottom member being in all positions in registry with all of said passages, in combination with, a single article discharge area for successive discharge of single cast articles laterally spaced from said bottom for a distance sufiicient to clear the path thereof, a transporting mechanism for the completed cast vertical casting passages, and a articles comprising a frame movable substantially horizontally, said frame surrounding an opening extending beyond all of the casting passages and the article discharge area, means for supporting said frame throughout its movements, driving means for moving said frame, and a suspension mechanism for said article supported by said frame and being actuable to grip the side surfaces of said articles for moving the same from the casting position to the discharge area, and to release each article in succession in the latter.

7. In a machine for simultaneously casting a plurality of profiled metal articles, such as slabs or billets, in a series of intermittent continuous casting operations, including a mold member having a plurality of adjacent bottom member in registry with all of said passages, at least one of said members being movable in a vertical path relative to each other, in combination with, a discharge mechanism operable for discharge of cast articles laterally spaced from said movable member for a distance sufficient to clear the path thereof, a transport mechanism for suspending and moving simultaneously all of the completed cast articles from their casting positions towards discharge and comprising a frame movable at an angle to the vertical, said frame surrounding an opening dimensioned in excess of the area extending between said discharge mechanism and the casting passage farthest spaced therefrom, means for supporting said frame throughout its movements, driving means for moving said frame, and a mechanism for each article supported by said frame and being actuable to suspend releasably all of said articles simultaneously.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,148,391 McBride Feb. 21, 1939 2,235,610 Ditges Mar. 18, 1941 2,301,027 Ennor Nov. 3, 1942 2,371,675 Cherry et al Mar. 20, 1945 2,425,362 Cherry et al Aug. 12, 1947 2,563,844 Johnston Aug. 14, 1951 2,582,329 Harter et al Jan. 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 873,400 France Mar. 23, 1942 

